A59669:442
The Sincere Convert
The sincere convert discovering the paucity of true believers and the great difficulty of saving conversion by Tho. Shepherd ....The sincere convert discovering the paucity of true beleevers and the great difficulty of saving conversion by Tho. Shepheard ....
London: printed by T.P. and M.S. for Humphrey Blunden, 1641
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Sixthly, the understandings idolatry: whereby the mind sets up, and ⟨p. 179⟩bows down to a false image of grace; that is, the mind being ignorant of the height and excellence of true grace, takes a false scantling of it, and so imagines and fancies within it self, such a measure of common grace to be true grace, which the soul easily having attained unto, conceives it is in the state of grace, and so deceives it self miserably, Rom. 10. 3.
Sixthly, the understandings idolatry: whereby the mind sets up, and ⟨p. 179⟩bowes down to a false image of grace; that is, the minde being ignorant of the height and excellence of true grace, takes a false scantling of it, and so imagins and fancies within it selfe, such a measure of common grace to be true grace, which the soule easily having attained unto, conceives it is in the state of grace, and so deceives it selfe miserably, Rom. 10. 3.
And the mind comes to set up her image thus.
And the minde comes to set up her image thus.
First, the mind is haunted and pursued §1with troublesome fears of Hell. Conscience tells him, he hath sinned, and the Law tells him he shall die, and Death appears and tells him, he must shortly mere with him; And if he be taken away in his sins, then comes a black day of reckoning for all his privy pranks, a day of blood, horror, judgement and fire, where no creature can comfort him. Hence saith he, Lord, keep my soul from these miseries; he hopeth it shall not prove so evil with him, but fears it will.